Tractor.



J. W. ROMINE.

TRACTOR.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT. 25, 1912. 1,064,774. Patented June 17, 1913.

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J. W. ROMINB.

TRACTOR.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT. 25, 1912.

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TRACTOR. l APPLICATION FILED SEPT. 25, 1912.

Patented June 17, 1913.

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UNITED stra'igns PATENT orrion JoHN w.`RoMINH, or MONROE, MICHIGAN,AssIGNoR or ONE-HALF To THE GHEENING NURSERY COMPANY, or MONROE,MICHIGAN, A'coHroHATIoN.'

TRACTOR.

To all 'whom t may concern citizen of the United States of'Ainerica, re-

siding 'at Monroe, in the county of Monroe and State of Michigamhaveinvented certain new and useful Improvements in Tractors, of which thevfollowing is a `spec-ification, reference being had therein to theaccompanying drawings. n

In the cultivation of trees, shrubs, plants or the like in the plots o-rfields in which they are commonly placed in nurseries,'cul tivation byield machines, and more particularly machines drawn or operated by atractor, is ditlicult because of the heightI of the trees or plants andis impracticable on account of the spacerequired at the ends and sidesof the field or plotfor turning the cultivating machine when the -row orrows are-finished.

vThis invention relates to a tractor adapted for use in cultivating theelds `or plots of a nursery or shrubbery containing plants, shrubs ortrees which may reach considerable heights and to an arrangement thereofwhereby space forturning of the machine at the ends lor sides of thefield is conserved and whereby the tractor maybe usedeven withplantsof-four or more feetin height.

The invention consists in the matters hereinafter set forth andpointedout in the appended claims.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a plan View of a tractor, with partsomitted, that embodiesfeaturesof the invention; Fig. 2 is a view in sideelevation thereof; Fig. 3 is a view in side elevation and in detail of atraction bearing wheel and driving mecha-- nism therefor; and Fig. 4 isa view of the wheel taken at right angles to the plane of view of Fig.3, partially in section and partially in elevation.

As shown in preferred form a substantially rectangular frame is formedof side members 1 of channel iron or the like, united in spaced andparallel relation by end'members 2 and a pair ofV transverse members 3atan interval from the ends. rLongitudinally disposed beams 4 connectthe lend and transverse members and form substantially rectangularbearing frames at the corners of the main frame where` the wholestructure is braced by suitably disposed vdiagonal braces 5. Acircularplate 6 or circle bar is rotatably mounted at each corner of theSpecification of Letters Patent. l

Applicationiled September 25, 1912. Serial No. 722,200. I

Patentedaune 17, 1913.

frame to turn in the plane'ii'.liereof,` and is preferably securedbetween inwardly extending flange guides 7 onA the transverse members3,1the sides 1 and end. members? 2. A pair of friction rollers 8 on eachbeam4 4 coact withthe flange guide 7 to holdthe circular plate 6 inposition l.and especially to resist lateral movement of Lthe.latter-,inwardly.

Upright shafts9, each in with a circular plate .-6, are stepped at theirupper ends in suitable bearings 10 which are secured to theI members 5vor other convenient portions of the mainframe. Each shaft 9 has agooseneck *11' at its lower end with.

a horizontal extension that forms al journal for a traction bearingwheel 13. .The journal is braced to thevcompanion circle bar 6 as byproperly-disposed convergent struts 14 and 15, the `upper end portionsofthe latter being secured in regular spaced relation to the circle bar.As a matter of convenience in construction square bolt or rivet headsl16 o f the securing members project from the circle bar 6 as teeth fora-sprocket chain.y

with a beveled gear 21 that is suitably secured to the companiontractioniwheel 1 3. As a convenient method" of holding this driving gearin position obliquely disposed brace rods 22 'are bolted tothe-peripheryof t e gear with their end -portions secured to -with themain drive shaftv 27 thereof connected as by any preferred change speed'reversing mechanism such' as shown at 28 with a jack shaft 29. Thepinions 25 are each secured to one of the members, either the hollowVjournal 30 or inner shaftl) of a transversely disposed two-partidiiferential follower sliaft`,"eacli pai-r of wheel drive shaftsl beingtli'us coupled together. The sleeve 30 andy member 31 orieachdifferential shaft are connected byk suitabledifferentialgearingindicated. at 32 to a sprocket wheel 33."liefei'alily thedifferential consists of beveled piiiions 34 radially disposed onthesprocket wheel 33 and* enga'ged with "oppositely arranged beveledaxial alinement 80 A sleeve 17 is journaled on each shaft 9.v 'd -Apinion 20 on the lower end thereof meshes gears, one ofwhich, 35, iskeyed to thel sleeve 30 while the other, 36, is made fast to the shaft31. One of the sprockets 33 is in alinement with a sprocket wheel 37rotatable on the jack shaft 29 while the other sprocket wheel 33 is inalinement with a sprocket wheel 38 likewise rotatable on the shaft 29. Aspider 39 is keyed to the shaft 29 between the sprockets 37 and 38 andcarries radially disposed beveled/pin- "ons 40 in mesh both with abeveled gear'4l secured-to a sprocket 37 and a beveled gear 42 rigidlyconnected to the sprocket 38, thereby aiording a differential drivingmechanism -for the shaft 29. Suitable sprocket chains 43 connect thesprockets 33 with this differential mechanism. A steering wheel postindicated at 44 near one end vof the main frame alords support for asteering wheel 45 with shaft 46 and sprocket wheels 4'( thereon.Suitably disposed chains 48 connect the steering wheel sprockets eachwith a circle bar 6 so that disposed chain with the adjacent circleVplates 6.

The usual and .necessary braces, not shown herein, are employed to holdthe frame in position and afford rigid support to the upright shaftswhich are ofA Such height that the frame when mounted on the tractionbearing wheels passes freely overy shrubs four or five feet in hei ht.AFurthermore the necessary control ing means (not shown herein) foroperating the change and reversing gearing and for' v regulating theengine speed are em loyed.

While the formA of diierential riving mechanism herein shown ispreferable, any suitable means may be used 'whereby .the

-forward and back transverse shafts are differentially connected tothe'ack shaft turned by the motor, and'similar the for- 4vval'dand backshafts may be o .any preferreid type'of differential drive lmembersadapted to impart the necessary motion to thelupright shafts andthereforeto the tractionl wheels.

The ,tractor inv operation may be driven .and cont-rolled as readily asany self propelled vehicle while it maybe made to move Sidevvise or to`follow a return path as .in cultivating, without bolug turned around`This makes it of a special advantage in cultivating trees, shrubs or thelike, parked* in the fields in the manner common in nurseries andshrubberies. The cultivator, plow or other instrument that is drawn bythe tractor may be secured to the latter between the ends thereof andthe tractor may be made to follow longitudinal or transverse rows-without turning it around so that there is no waste space necessary atthe end or side of the fields.

Obviously, changes in the details of construction may be made withoutdeparting from the spirit of my invention and I do not care to .limitmyself to any particular form or arrangement of parts.

l1. A tractor comprising a frame, a pair of bearing members rotatable inthe plane of the frame at each end thereof, upright shafts eachrotatable in and in axial alinernent with a bearing member, a tractionbearing Wheeljournaled on the horizontal extension of each shaft,mechanism for driving each` wheel coupled to afford differentialmovement of the wheels of each pair, a motor on the frame for drivingthe mechanism, and means for turnin the wheels of each pair in unisonindepen ently of the other pair.

2. A tractor comprising a frame, a pair of depending uprig each end ofthe frame and provided with lateral extensions near their lower ends,traction bearing wheels mounted each on a lateral extension, manuallyoperable means for turning the shafton each pair in unison independentlyofthe otherpalr, dierential mechanism coupling the traction bearingWheels on each pair and driving the latter when in any position, amotor, and mechanism operatively connecting the motor to thediiferential coupling means of each pair for driving said coupling meansdierentially,

3. A tractor comprising a main frame, a pair of upright shafts dependingfrom each end portion thereof, and each having a lateral extension, acircle plate secured to each shaft and rotatably secured in the frame, asteering wheel for each pair of circle plates, means operativelyconnecting each steering wheel and the companion circle plates to turnthe latter in unison, a motor, and differential and change speedtransmission mechanism operatively connesting the motor to each tractionwheel.

4. A tractor com rising a mainframe, a

t shafts journaled near pair of upright sha ts depending from each end.port-ion thereof, and-each'having a lateral extension, acircle platesecured to each shaft androtatably secured in the frame, a

steering wheel foreach Apair of circle plates, means-operativelyconnecting each steering wheel and the, .companion `circle platesA toturn the latter -in unison, a meter, anddiiier- 'driving the latterdifferenti ential and change speed transmission mechanism operativelyconnecting the motor to each traction wheelthe steering wheels of thepairs being mounted for simultaneous manipulation by an operator.

5, A tractor comprising a main frame, a pair of circle plates rotatablysecured near each end thereof, upright shafts secured to turn with thecircle plates and provided with 'lateral extensions near the lower endsthereof, a traction bearing wheel on each eX- tension, a beveled gear oneach traction wheel, a sleeve journaled on each shaft, a beveled pinionon each sleeve meshing with the wheel gear, a two-part differentialshaft for each pair of circle plates, a pinion secured on each part nearthe adjacent circle plate, a beveled gear on each sleeve in'mesh with adifferential shaft pinion, gearing differentially connecting the twoparts of each shaft, a motor on the frame, and mechanism operativelyconnecting the motor to the shaft differential mechanisms for allyrelative to each other.

6. A tractor comprising a main frame, a pair of circle plates rotatablysecured near each end thereof, upright shafts secured to turn with thecircle plates and provided with lateral extensions near the lower endsthereof, 4a traction bearing wheel on each extension, a beveled gear oneachl traction wheel, a sleeve journaled on each shaft, a beveled pinionon each sleeve meshing with the wheel gear, a two-part differentialshaft for each pair of circle pla-tes, a pinion secured on each art nearthe adjacent circle plate, a beveled3 gear on each sleeve in mesh with adifferential shaft pinion, gearing differentially connecting the twoparts of each shaft, a motor on the frame, mechanism operativelyconnecting the motor to the shaft differential mechanisms for drivingthe latter differentially relative to each other, a steering wheelrotatably mounted on the frame for each pair of circle bars, and

means operatively connecting each stee wheel with the 'companion circlebars an turningthe latter in unison.

7. A tractor comprising a main frame, a

each end, an upright shaft depending fr om each circle plate, bracemembers connecting the circle plate with the lower end portion of eachshaft, a lateral extension near the lower end of each shaft, a tractionbearing wheel journaled on each extension, a pair of steering wheelsmounted on the frame, and sprocket connections between each wheel andthe steering shaft therefor.

8. A tractor comprising a substantially rect-angular horizontallydisposed main frame, a pair of circle plates journaled near eachv endthereof, a shaft depending from each circle plate and having a lateralextension near t e lower end thereof, a traction bearing wheel journaledon each extension, a gear on each traction wheel, a sleeve journaled oneach shaft, a pinion thereon in mesh with the wheel gear, a gear on theupper portion of each sleeve, a dierential shaft for each pair ofupright shafts, pinions each secured on a partiof a differential shaftin mesh with the upper sleeve gear, a main differential mechanismadapted to drive the two differential shafts, a motor, change speed andreverse mechanism connect-ing the motor to t-he main differentialmechanism, a steering wheel rotatively secured on the main frame andconnected to a pair of circle bars to swing the latter in unison, and asteering wheel rotatively secured on the main frame adjacent the othersteerin wheel and operatively connected to theot er pair of circle barsto swing the latter in unison.

In testimony whereof I aiix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

JOHN W. ROMINE.

Witnesses:

ROY T. SPEND?, ELLA TROLL.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for ve cents each, by addressingthe Commissioner of Patents,

Washington, D. C.

pair of circle plates journaled thereon near'

